This proposal requests S1,068,375 in federal grant funds from the fiscal year 2024 cooperative endangered species conservation fund (section 6 of the endangered species act) nontraditional recovery…

This $1,443,750 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CFDA 15.615) will provide funding to the State of California Department of Fish & Wildlife (doing business as the Wildlife Conservation Board) for the acquisition and permanent protection of habitat essential for the recovery of the federally endangered San Bernardino kangaroo rat, Santa Ana River woolly-star, and slender-horned spineflower. The project will result in the acquisition of critical lands that will complement the pending Upper Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan. The non-federal match for this project is $375,375, representing 26.00% of the total project cost. The award period is from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027.

This proposal requests S1,068,375 in federal grant funds from the fiscal year 2024 cooperative endangered species conservation fund (section 6 of the endangered species act) nontraditional recovery land acquisition program. The federal grant will be matched by non-federal funds totaling S375,375 (26.00 percent) of the total project cost. The funding will result in the acquisition and permanent protection of habitat essential for the recovery of the federally endangered SAN bernardino kangaroo RAT (dipodomys merriami parvus), the federally endangered santa ANA river woolly-star (eriastrum densifolium sanctorum), and may provide the opportunity for the establishment of a new population of the federally endangered slender-horned spineflower (dodecahema leptoceras) thereby enhancing its recovery. In february 2022, the california fish and game commission found that listing of SAN bernardino kangaroo RAT as endangered under the california endangered species act (CESA) is warranted, and in october 2023 the california fish and game commission ratified the decision to list the species as endangered under CESA. The santa ANA river woolly-star is listed as an endangered california plant species. Due to habitat loss and degradation, the proposed acquisition and conservation of the parcels are critically important for the recovery of these species. The SAN bernardino valley municipal water district will own and manage the properties in perpetuity for the conservation of listed and sensitive species. In addition to promoting recovery of listed species, the proposed acquisition will complement the pending upper santa ANA river habitat conservation plan (hereafter referred to as pending upper SAR HCP ), located in southwest SAN bernardino county, california.